Method of and apparatus for stoneworking.



D. W. CU STER. METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR STONEWORKING.

APPLICATION HLED JANI 23. I918.

Patented Aug. 19, 1919.

2 SHEETS-SHEET] D. W. CUSTERi METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR STONEWORKING.

HEET 2.

APPLICATION FILED JAN. 23. 1918- Patented Aug.

2 SHEETSS mfg.

v gwpenlor V UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

DAVID W. CUSTER, F SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA, A'SSIGNOR TO EDWIN O. TOWNSEND, 0F

' MANSFIELD, OHIO. V

METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR STONEWORKING,

' Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Aug. 19, 1919.

Application filed January 23, 1918. a Serial No. 213,374.

To all whom it mag concern Be it known that'I, DAVID W. CUsTER, a citizen of the United States, residing at Sydney, Australia, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Methods of and Apparatus for Stoneworking, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to the manufacture of relatively large monolithic stone "recepta cles such as bath tubs and the like, and more particularly has special reference to making the same from blocks of solid stone.

Heretofore, in making bath tubs of marble great waste of this valuable stone has 1 for other uses, thereby resultin in greatly increased economy the wor 'ng':of:the stone, and also-materially diminishing the cost'ofthe finished product.

With thefab ove and other objects in view l which will-more readily appear as the nature of the invention is better' understoodjthe same consists in the novel construction, combination, and arrangement of parts hereinafter more fully described, illustrated, and

' claimed.

The essential features of the invention are necessarilysusceptible of modification to a reasonable extent, without departing from the scope of the appended claims, but for the I purposes of illustration, the'drawings show a preferred method of carrying the invention into eifect, both as to process and means. l

In the drawings Figure'l is a perspective viewof a solid block of marble illustrating the first step of the present method, wherein substantially verticalholes of suitable diameter are made at a proper distance from each corner of the block. I

Fig. 2 is a cross-sectional view on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1: V I

Fig. 3'is a perspective view similar to Fig. 1, illustrating the second step of the method, wherein the holes formed by the first step shown in Fig. 1 are directly connected by looped channel, thus isolating the 1 central portion of the block and forming the core which only remains connected with the body at the bottom. This figure also indicates by dotted'lines an incidental step in the method which consists in making the original holes slightly larger for the purpose of receiving a portion of the cutting apparatus as will hereinafter more fully appear.

Fig. 4. is a horizontal cross-section taken on the line H of Fig. 3. p Fig. 5 is a perspective view illustrating the next step of the method, wherein the core severing apparatus is placed in position on the "block to cut the core at its bottom from the block body.

Fig. 6 is a section illustrating the next step of the method wherein the core is partially severed from the body block.

' Fig. 7 is a view similarto Fig. 6 showing the next step of the method wherein the apparatus is reversed, to complete the seven ing of the core-from thebody'block.

Fig. 8 illustrates the final step in the method wherein the completely severed core is removed from the body block. I Fig. 9 is a perspective view of the finished article. 7

Fig. 10 is a perspective view of one of the roller carrying bars of the severing apparatus. v 7

Similar references designate corresponding parts throughout the several figures of the drawings.

In carrying the present method into effect it is proposed to operate upon ablock of marble 1 of suitable shape and dimensions, according to the styleand character of the tub to be made, and then provide this block in each corner portion thereof with a substantially vertically disposed guide hole 2. These holes may be formed by any suitable or well known drilling device and extend from the upper surface of the block to the required depth. for instance three inches from the bottom. I

According to the next step' of the inven tion, it is proposed to connect all of these guide holes by a plurality of communicating-channels 3', whichmay be formed by a suitable channeling machine to make a continuous freeway in the body of the block and leave a central core portion 0 which is is formed in the body block, it is desirable to slightly enlargethe original corner holes 2, as indicated bydottedlines 2, whereby the apparatus for separating'the bottom of the core from the body block may be readily inserted and. operated;

Fig. 5) illustrates the next step in the IIIBtllOClIWllQl'GlIL the core severing apparatus isclamped to one end of the block so that a port-ion thereof extends down into'the pair of holes 2 which are located at one end of the block, whereby the severing or cutting wire N thereof may be'looped around the end of the corev G opposite theapparatus, asv The indicated by the dotted lines in Fig. 5. location and operation of the core severing apparatus in this step of the, method is shown in Fig. 6 of the drawings, wherein the cutting wire WV appears as having cut a portion of the core 0 fromthe body block,.; the dotted. lines 0 indicating the extent to which the core is severed by the apparatus.-

in the position shown in Fig. 6. It. will, of

course, be understood that the cutting action;

of the wire W is facilitated by placing in the channel 3 a suitable'mixture of water and sand, or water and steel shot.

' After the apparatus has severed about onehalf' of the core from the body block, it

is reversed, as shown in Fig. 7, whereby the cutting wire W starts a fresh cut: at the op posite end of the core which will meet with the previously formed out made with the apparatus, as shown in Fig. 6. This reversal of the apparatus greatly facilitates the cutting action of the wire, since as the wire gets deeper in its slot, its cutting pressure is materiallyreduced. After the core C is thus completely severed by this step of the method it is then suitably removed, as indicated in Fig. 8, and the result is the hollow shell body'or tub shown in Fig. 9.

Referring now to one type of apparatus. for severing thebottom ofthe core'from the body. block, it will be observed from Fig. 5 that the same may comprise a pair of roller carrying guide-bars 4:, adapted to fit into the enlarged vertical openings 2, and having at their lower endsthe wirereceiving and guiding rollers-5- preferably of awaterproofand 'ballbear -ing-. type to eliminate as much friction as possible. Theseguide-bars l are rigidly held in;.place withinthe. openings 2" by means of a. clampingframe designated generally as F, and which preferably comprises an upper shaft, clampingcross bar 6 and a lower block--'engagingbar 7 which are joined by. means of-vertical connecting rods 8, havingrateach. end thereof the removable nuts 9, whereby 'theframe may be readily and quickly clamped to and removed from the end of the block.

It will of course be understoodthatany suitable framing may be used for holding together the various parts of the apparatus in operative relation, and any suitable drivfunction. The purpose of-giving-the wire a long run is to permititto cool after leaving the block sothat upon again entering the same for the cuttingoperation its hardness and cutting-*eiiiciencv will not be impaired;

From the foregoing it" will be apparent: that the novel and: distinctive feature of the present invention is-the making of hollow receptacles from solid blocks ofstone, by removing the core of the block as a whole in an unbroken condition, and to this-end there is employed a novel-cutting saw in the form eta-flexible wire, which, by the use of the typeof apparatus shown, can sever the core from the body block with ease and;fa'cility.

11 A method of. making'monolithic stone tubs or the like which consists'in firstform ing guiding holes to a partialdepth in the corner portions; of: the stone block,=thengconnecting said holes by forming a channel within the body andthroughthe holes, and subsequently severing thecore, left by forming-the channel, by cutting it. from .the body in substantially the same plane as the bottoms of the saidguideholes.

2; A method of making monolithic stone tubs or the like from solid stone blocks which consists in first: forming a series ofholesin theblock, and'ithen connecting each ofsaid holes by a channel to forma central core portion which is isolated from the body block at the sides and ends but still connect.- ed at the bottom, then enlarging saidholes to receive a. portiouof-a'core bottom severing apparatus,flthen severing the bOttOl'IlwOf the; core: from the .blOCkgtftDCl subsequently removing the core from the body-Shelli 8. A method of making monolithic;stone tubs or the like from solid stone blocks which consists in first making a series of guide holes in each corner portion 'Of'th6'b1QCkf, and then iconnecting-saidholes by za plurality of communicatingchannels to'fo'rm a central core 4 portion which, is isolated- -from the sides and ends of the body block but connected at the bottom, then severing the bottom of the core from the body block, and subsequently removing the core block as a unit from the body-shell thus formed.

at. A method of making monolithic stone tubs or the like from solid stone blocks which consists in first making a series of guide holes in the block, then connecting said holes by a channel to form a central core portion which is disconnected from the sides and ends of the body block, but still connected at the bottom, then severing the bottom of the core from the body block, and subsequently. removing the unbroken core from the body-shell.

5. A method of making monolithic stone tubs or the like from solid stone blocks which consists of first making a series of holes in the block, and then connecting said holes by a channel to form a central core portion which is disconnected from the sides and end of the body block but still connected at the bottom, and then partially severing the bottom of the core from the body block by looping a moving continuous flexible cutter copies of this patent may be obtained for around the end of the core opposite its entrance into the channel, then reversing the position of said cutter whereby the same will complete the severing of the core from the body block in the opposite direction and subsequently removing the unbroken core from the body shell.

6. A process for making hollow receptacles from solid stone blocks which consists in first making a continuous channel to a partial depth of the block, then cutting the core surrounded by the channel from the body of the block by applying a flexible cutter to one end of said core at the bottom of the channel to make a cut at right angles to the latter toward the center of the block, then applying said flexible cutter to the opposite end of the core to cut in the reverse direction, and subsequently removing the severed core as a unit.

In testimony whereof I hereunto affix my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

DAVID W. CUSTER.

Witnesses:

H. C. CAMPBELL, G. GARDNER.

five cent: each, by addressing the "Gommillioner of Eaten", Washington, D; 0. 

